Mahakumbh Stampede: Several Feared Dead, Akharas Call Off ‘Amrit Snan’

Prayagraj, January 29, 2025:

Mahakumbh Stampede Live Update: A stampede at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj has taken several lives. Over 17 people are reported dead, while many more are injured. The stampede took place at around 2 AM near the Sangam shore where lakhs of devotees had gathered for the sacred Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan. Ambulances are arriving all the time and the authorities themselves are conducting a rescue and relief operation at Maha Kumbh hospital which is treating most of the casualties.

ज़मीन पर लोगों की लाश रखी गई है। ये अमानवीय है ।
आख़िर 7000 करोड़ कहाँ और किस पर खर्च हुए?#KumbhaMela #MahaKumbhStampede

pic.twitter.com/1zhF3tTdyD

— Priyanka Bharti (@priyanka2bharti) January 29, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath early Wednesday morning to assess the situation and urged swift relief work. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also called CM Yogi and assured him that the central government would not let anything go amiss in this hour of crisis.

Akharas Suspend Amrit Snan

After the tragic incident, the President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, Mahant Ravindra Puri, stated that the seers had collectively decided to cancel the Mauni Amavasya Amrit Snan due to safety reasons. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also called the Akharas to prevent further mishaps, which resulted in the postponement of the scheduled holy baths.

At 5 Am, Nirvani and Akhada Atal would be taking the Amrit Snan, followed by Niranjani, Anand, Juna, Agni, Aavahan, and Kinnar Akhadas. Other sects of Vaishnav included the Digambar Ani, Nirmohee Ani, Nirvani Ani, and finally, the Nirmal Akhada.

For easy medical aid, a green corridor was designed so that the patients could reach hospitals soon. Air ambulances were also arranged for serious cases. Authorities from the Rapid Action Force were present to control the number of people and keep things under control at Triveni Sangam.

The administration, jointly with the law enforcement agencies, is working with all seriousness to calculate the cause of the stampede and put forward measures for which such incidents should not recur. The tragedy has cast a shadow on the sacred Mahakumbh celebrations as well because devotees and officers at large mourn the loss of lives and pray for the injured ones.